(3) They opposed him bitterly, on account of _the company that he kept_. In contempt they said, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them" (Luke 15:2). And they continually complained that he was a friend of hated publicans and sinners. They could not understand at all that the very grandeur of his mission consisted just in this, that he came to call sinners to repentance. Their complaint, as given in Luke 15:2, called forth from him three of the grandest parables that we have, namely, those of the lost silver, the lost sheep, and the lost son. Especially were they angered because he had taken into the number of his disciples the hated Matthew, the tax-gatherer.

(4) They opposed him again because of his _failure to observe the Sabbath_ in the manner prescribed by themselves. They had made the day one of weariness to the flesh, and had pa.s.sed by deeds of mercy and helpfulness. So when he healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda and the man born blind, on the Sabbath, they took counsel how they might destroy him. While they themselves would pull out a sheep or an ox from the pit on the Sabbath, they criticized him for healing men on that day. This brought forth from him stern condemnation, which, of course, did not mollify their feelings toward him.

(5) Furthermore, they opposed him because he _declined to observe_ certain minute regulations of the law concerning washing of hands and the like. These regulations they had laid on men's shoulders, but they were not at all Divine ordinances. This is why he said, in his denunciation of them, "they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with their finger" (Matt. 23:4). (Read the whole of Matt.

23, and you will understand better who and what these men were who were opposing the Master.) Once more, they opposed him because he had made such friends of the common people and had not in any way bowed down to them, as the leaders of the people. The common people heard him gladly, and that angered them. "This mult.i.tude who knoweth not the law are cursed" (John 7:49). They were furious because the whole world seemed to have gone after him, while they themselves were left in the background. This was galling to their innate pride.

(6) What made their opposition all the worse was that though they could not deny his miracles, they went so far as to ascribe them to the agency of Satan. "He hath a demon, and is mad: why hear ye him?"

is what they exclaimed (John 10:20). The Pharisees said, "By the prince of the demons casteth he out demons" (Matt. 9:34). So they dared to ascribe to demoniac possession the deeds of him in whom the Spirit dwelt without measure. It was this ascribing to the spirit of darkness of the works of the Holy Spirit that brought forth from the Master his statement concerning the unpardonable sin. It really consisted in ascribing to the Holy Spirit the works of the prince of darkness.

#140. Away from the Crowds.#--After the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, the Master was mostly in out of the way places, such as Caesarea Philippi, Decapolis, and the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. He feared lest the Galileans, if he wrought more miracles among them, would raise insurrection, and so bring on him the power of the Roman government. This would have ruined his mission to this earth. For about six months after the miracle of the five thousand he tarried in Galilee and its immediate vicinity before he started on his final journey to Jerusalem. It was during these six months that the transfiguration took place.

Test Questions

What event closes the year of popularity?

What action did the people wish to take in consequence of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand?

What sign have we that even the disciples were infected with this spirit?

What did the people wish Jesus to do on the following day?

When he declined what did the people do?

All this time, what was the att.i.tude of the Pharisees?

How many of these men were there at this time in Palestine?

Give the first ground of their opposition to him.

Give the second ground of their opposition.

Give the third ground.

Give the fourth and the fifth ground a.s.signed for their opposition.

To what did they ascribe his power of working miracles?

Where did the Master stay for the next six months?

What marked event took place during these six months?

Test Questions for Review

Lessons 1 to 5

1. How long an interval of silence between Old and New Testament?

2. Give the limits of each of the five periods of New Testament history.

3. How may the life of Christ be divided?

4. What was the threefold nature of Jesus' temptation?

5. What is meant by the year of obscurity?

6. With whom did Jesus have a most noteworthy interview in Jerusalem?

7. What is the second year of Christ's life called?

8. Where was it for the most part spent?

9. Why did Jesus use parables so much?

10. Around what thought did most of his teachings revolve?

11. What were the five grounds given for the opposition of the Pharisees?

12. Where did the Master stay for six months after the year of popularity?

Lesson 6

The Closing Week

New Testament Division--Second Period (Continued)

-----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+---------- EVENTS | MATTHEW | MARK | LUKE | JOHN -----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+---------- Triumphal Entry into | 21:1-11 | 11:1-11 | 19:29-44 | 12:12-19 Jerusalem. | | | | | | | | Cursing of the Fig | 21:18, 19 | 11:12-14 | | Tree. | | | | | | | | Second Cleansing of the| 21:12-17 | 11:15-19 | 19:45-48;| Temple, etc. | | | 21:37, 38| | | | | Fig Tree Withered Away.| 21:20-22 | 11:20-25 | | | | | | Discourses, etc. | 21:23 to | 11:27 to | 20:1-47 | | 23:39 | 12:40 | | | | | | The Widow's Two Mites. | ... | 12:41-44 | 21:1-4 | | | | | Greeks Seek to See | ... | ... | ... | 12:20-36 Jesus. | | | | | | | | Unbelief of the Jews. | ... | ... | ... | 12:37-50 | | | | Prediction of the | | | | Destruction of the | | | | Temple. | 24:1, 2 | 13:1, 2 | 21:5, 6 | | | | | Discourses, Parables, | 24:3 to | 13:3-37 | 21:7-36 | etc. | 25:46 | | | | | | | Conspiracy between the | 26:1-5, | 14:1, 2, | 22:1-6 | Rulers and Judas. | 14-16 | 10, 11 | | | | | | The Last Supper. | 26:17-35 | 14:12-31 | 22:7-38 | 13:1 to | | | | 17:26 | | | | Departure to | 26:30, | 14:26, | 22:39 | 18:1 Gethsemane. | 31-35 | 27-31 | | | | | | Agony, Betrayal, etc. | 26:36-56 | 14:32-52 | 22:40-53 | 18:2-12 | | | | Jerusalem. Hearing | ... | ... | ... | 18:13, before Annas. | | | | 14, 19-24 | | | | Night Trial before | 26:57-68 | 14:53-65 | 22:54, | Caiaphas. | | | 63-65 | | | | | Three Denials of Peter.| 26:69-75 | 14:66-72 | 22:55-62 | 18:15-18, | | | | 25-27 | | | | Formal Condemnation by | | | | the Sanhedrin; Jesus | 27:1, 2 | 15:1 | 22:66 to | 18:28 led to Pilate. | | | 23:1 | | | | | Remorse and Suicide of | | | | Judas. | 27:3-10 | | | | | | | Trial before Pilate. | 27:11-14 | 15:2-5 | 23:2-5 | 18:29-38 | | | | Jesus before Herod. | | | 23:6-12 | | | | | Condemned by Pilate. | 27:15-30 | 15:6-19 | 23:13-25 | 18:39 to | | | | 19:16 | | | | Jesus Led Away to be | 27:31-34 | 15:20-23 | 23:26-33 | 19:16, 17 Crucified. | | | | | | | | Calvary. The | 27:35-38 | 15:24-28 | 23:33, | 19:18-24 Crucifixion. | | | 34, 38 | | | | | Jesus on the Cross. | 27:39-56 | 15:29-41 | 23:35-49 | 19:25-30 | | | | Burial of Jesus. | 27:57-61 | 15:42-47 | 23:50-56 | 19:31-42 | | | | Guard at the Sepulcher.| 27:62-66 | | | -----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------

#TIME.#--A. D. 30.

#PLACES.#--Bethany, Jerusalem.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MAP OF JERUSALEM AND VICINITY.

Copyright, 1898, BY JOHN D. WATTLES & CO.

With the Temple as a center a circle is drawn every quarter mile, to a.s.sist in determining distances.]

The Incomparable Life (Continued)

#141. The Pa.s.sion Week.#--Our Lord arrived at Bethany on his last journey to Jerusalem on Friday before the Pa.s.sover. On the following Sunday came the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Reckoning from that day to the day of his resurrection, we have eight days. How important these days were in the minds of the evangelists may be seen from the amount of s.p.a.ce they give to the narrative of these days. To the three years and more of his public ministry, the four evangelists give in all 55 chapters. But to the eight days spoken of, they give 30 chapters. It is most significant that had they told the story of his public ministry in as great detail, it would have occupied over 4000 chapters. This may be seen in part in the accompanying chart.

| 3-1/2 years | 8 days | | 55 chapters | 30 chapters | +------------------------------------------------+-------------+